With over 20 years of experience covering the Steelers for the Observer-Reporter, Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard on the Steelers radio network pre-game show on WDVE-FM game days and Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on ESPN 970-AM and WDVE during the season as a host of the Antonio Brown Show. Follow him on Twitter at @dlolleyor

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Thursday notes

At his press conference Thursday, Mike Tomlin pretty much said what I've been stating about Issac Redman since last week - if he can't play special teams, he won't be on the 53-man roster or the red zone back.

The deal is for $7.5 million according to John Clayton. Leftwich will be scheduled to make $2 million in 2009. He will also have a $3.5 million roster bonus in 2010 that has to be paid at the start of the NFL free-agency period. If the Buccaneers pay it, Leftwich could make $5.5 million in 2010.

Which means we would have to find another 2 million dollars for this year against a tight cap and his Cap number for next season would make him impossible to stay with the Steelers unless he re-negotiated. This also means for sure no extension for Clark/Keisel/ or any of they other guys.

IMHO, Batch wasn't all that great against Wash. His passes were off the mark with Ward and Holmes making a great catch each for two completions. No matter how respected Batch might be in the locker room, Tomlin, his coaches and the front office aren't sentimental. They want players who can help them win. For that, Lefty is a better option than Batch.

I think if Dixon hadn't gotten hurt against Wash, Batch would have been a near lock to make the team, but with Dixon's health uncertain and BR's foot/achilles tendon questionable, I wouldn't want to go into the regular season depending on Charlie Batch, who is injury prone anyway.

My only question is would Pgh be able to afford Lefty under the cap? I think the only way would be to cut Batch.

Dale, with regards to Byron Leftwich, I think I'm right in saying that because we lost Marvel Smith and Byron Leftwich as free agents (Lefty's deal is around $3.5m per year, Marvel's around $5.5m per) but only signed two vet minimum guys in McDonald and Ratliff we'll probably be getting a compensatory pick, perhaps as high as a 5th roudner, more likely a 6th rounder for having lost Leftwich anyway. So trading a low draft pick to get him back is pretty much a wash anyway.

oh the irony, we finally have our goal line back and he can't play ST?

Seems silly, I think Redman stays as the new Russell and Davis who can definitely play ST stays over Summers to make up for that deficiency. Though Summers can prob play ST, its just not proven as much Davis is.

Gary Russell was a major asset in special teams. At least as much as Carey Davis. He was great in coverage, and as good as a short yardage back could be on kickoff returns. Really, he had no business being there. We just didn't have anyone else.

Maybe he didn't have any crushing hits on ST (I can remember Davis having one), but I thought he was very consistent, and I never saw him embarrass himself in any aspect of the game the way Davis does.

So that's why there is such a gap between Russell and Redman. I agree, they seem very similar when they run with the ball.

I do think we should keep Summers, because even with almost no experience, he seems every bit as capable of blocking, covering, and carrying the ball as Davis does. I would bet by week 8 he'll be much better.

I say cut Carey Davis. I'm sure I sound like someone jumping on the bandwagon, but let's face it: he will not get any better at this point. Frank Summers, David Johnson, and Isaac Redman will. Not to mention we could use the roster spot for folks like Logan and Sonny Harris.

I didn't think Russell did any ST besides returning. If I'm wrong then so be it, but I thought he only returned, but its hard to remember him being on coverage. But I'm not denying that he was, I'm just not sure so I'll take your word for it.

"I didn't think Russell did any ST besides returning. If I'm wrong then so be it, but I thought he only returned, but its hard to remember him being on coverage. But I'm not denying that he was, I'm just not sure so I'll take your word for it. "

Russell most definitely was on coverage units. You are wrong once again

A lost FA doesn't have to be drafted by their original team for a comp pick to be awarded. Washington got a comp last year for Mark Brunell. Same with NE and Donte Stallworth, iirc.

And Gary Russell actually had more ST tackles than Davis.

Oh, and while I have the mop out, Claude Humphrey was a senior finalist for the HOF this year with Bob Hayes. He didn't make it. Year before Emmit Thomas and Marshall Goldberg were the seniors. Goldberg didn't make it. Humphrey and Goldberg failed to make the ballot this coming year.

DrinkYourMilkshake spelled it out very early -- if we trade for Leftwich we have to take on his contract which means paying him $ 2 mill. this season. With the Steelers already being very tight against the cap, that would be tough to do.

And comp picks are not only for players you drafted. In 2007 we got one for Kimo von Oelhoffen whom we had signed as a FA from the Bengals. That being said, without looking too deeply into it, we could be looking at getting comp picks next year for Nate Washington, Bryand McFadden, Marvel Smith, and Byron Leftwich. I think that the contracts signed by Ratliff & McDonald are too low to count in the formula (both at or near the minimum IIRC).

I'm with you, Mr. Anonymous. We left too many points on the board in the red zone last year. We can't assume we're going to get away with that again this year. Our defense is great, but it's going to come back to bite us in a key game, or a playoff game, when we can't punch the ball in on a crucial drive. This team NEEDS Isaac Redman.

We don't really "need" Isaac Redman. Remember, last year both Parker and Mendenhall were hurt. Any team will suffer in their running game when their top two running backs are gone. I think we need to see what Parker (who scored 16 TD's like two years ago) and Mendenhall can do in short yardage. Also, if you don't have an o-line that can run block or an OC who can make the correct calls at the correct time it doesn't matter who your backs are - they will be ineffective.

Everyone needs to calm down about Redman. He has looked good in very limited PRESEASON game action and in PRACTICE. Its absurd to think if this guy gets the rock inside the 5 in a REAL GAME we will score every time because he is so amazing at short yardage. I agree with Tomlin, if he can't help out very much else where then he is not needed on the final 53. I don't think it will be a problem getting him on the PS either. People were saying the exact same type of things about Cary Davis like 2 years ago in the preseason.

The other thing that none of the Redman fans are considering is that while making the roster would be great, the Steelers don't dress all their RBs on gameday. Typically they dress 3 RBs and Carey Davis. With injuries, etc. last year they went with 2 RBs on gameday on occasion.

Even thought Gary Russell made the team out of training camp last year, he was inactive for the first two weeks of the season, then was released to make space for Patrick Bailey once Donovan Woods got hurt. He was signed back (along with Najeh Davenport) before Week 5 after Mendenhall had gone down for the year & Willie Parker and Carey Davis were out with injuries.

So for Redman to dress they'd either have to change the way they normally address their gameday roster, or they'd have to bench Parker, Mendenhall, or Mewelde Moore.

Gary Russell covered kicks in the games he was active last season.McDonald fields punts fine. I just don't know that he would be an upgrade returning them.

As for Leftwich's salary, you have to subtract another salary that would no longer be here.They're going to save some money by releasing some veteran guys at some point - Kirschke, Ratliff – so I'm sure they could fit it in.

Dale, the only salary you'd really subtract would be Batch's -- assuming that he'd be cut & Dixon kept. And IIRC Batch signed for the minimum. As such, the Steelers are charged a discounted amount against the cap versus the money he's actually given. The increase would still be roughly $1.4 or $1.5 mill on the existing cap. Add to that the necessity to carry extra cap room during the season because of changes to the way earned incentives are counted in this, the final capped year, and you've got even less chance of making it feesible.

Redman runs the right way for goal line. I find it funny though that nobody has really mentioned that Parker scored in the game last week, earlier in the game and against a much better defensive line. I guess Willie's touchdown doesn't count but Redman's do.

Redman definitely is not the only answer to our goal line problems - our o-line obviously hasn't got the job done, but certain guys have that knack for burrowing into the endzone. REDMAN HAS THAT KNACK. Redman was hit hard up the middle of the line on one of the TD's and still managed to create 2 more yards for the score. On the other one he easily disposed of a would be tackler around RT. Haven't seen our other guys do that much in their time here. I think we need him. Those last few yards of a drive are the most important on the football field- difference between 3 and 7 points. It is a major problem area for our offense. If Redman is the guy that gives us the best chance of getting in there, I think it's worth a roster spot just for that.

For those who mention that Redman was an UDFA who only got a look by the Steelers, that was before camp and the preseason started. The other teams have gotten a look at him now - you think the coaches don't peruse other teams' films?? There very well may be another team who is interested in him as a running back and NOT on the PS. We have the luxury of looking at this with some depth to our team (nice problem to have) but others are not so lucky and could see #33 as a great "below the radar" pick if he goes to PS. Tonight's game will only increase that interest. And Redman did have some blocks tonight...